Sole pressing machine



Nov. 29, 1932. R. J. KING ET AL 1,383,987

SOLE PRESSING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 avwemboml ROBERT KIA/e, 6: .gigbhemauome RALPH A.BLAKE Nov. 29,- 1932. R. .1. KING ET AL SOLE PRESS ING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheef. 2

Filed June 15, 1923 avwamboza ROBERT J. KING 6; RALPHA.BLAKE h khei r, abtom Nov. 29, 1932. R. J. KING ET AL SOLE PRESSING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ambenfozd Reamer .ZK/N R LPH AJBLAKE a ngtheizabtwnu NOV. 29, 1932. v R J. KlN T AL 1,888,987

SOLE PRESSING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT .1. KING AND RALPH A. BLAKE, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE GOODYEARS INDIA RUBBER GLOVE MFG. COMPANY, OF NAUGATUCK, CON- NECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT SOLE DRESSING MACHINE Application .filed June 13, 1923. Serial No. 645,029.

This invention relates to a sole pressing machine, more particularly to a machine for pressing rubber soles on footwear articles such as overshoes, tennis shoes, etc.

For many years, in building up rubber footwear articles, the practice has been to apply the sole to the lasted upper and rollit down into contact with the insole by means ofja small hand roller. As this roller is quite small and has only a line contact with the sole considerable time and pressure is required to properly roll it down, and in recent years the use of machines for rolling the soles has bec'omequite common. In the majority of these machines the sole is pressed on by means of a fluid supported diaphragm pressing against the sole in opposition to a support engaging or secured to the projecting portion of the last. While such machines, owing to the increase in capacity, are being widely used. they are open to numerous objections, and a considerable number of the footwear articles are damaged or the sole pressing operation must be completed with a hand roller. Owing to'the fact that on one side the last is sometimes supported only by the portion projecting from the article. while the sole pressing means operates against the entire extent of the opposite side of the last, the latter tends to tilt on its support. and to prevent this toe supports are extensively used. An objection to the use of such toe supports is that they must be adiusted for each different size of shoe or other footwear article which is to be pressed. and a more serious objection is that owing to their more or less angular engagement with the sloping toe portion of the article they cause the shoe tip to creep forward on the last when pressing. particularly, if the'upper has not been tightly lasted by the operator. The upper stock. in the case of articles having rubber uppers, is in its unvulcanized condition extremely stickvand tender. and hence if, by reason of the creeping of the upper, folds develop. the rubber stock tends to adhere at' these folds. thereby ruining the article. In addition the pressure frequently causes the toe support itself to mar the upper. Another serious objection in the machines of the prior art is the manner in which the elastic diaphragm operates upon the sole. As the dia phragm presses against the sole it is also stretched, and owing to the'friction between the diaphragm and the sole the latter is also stretched. This friction tends to mar the knurling or roughening on the sole. The frictional action of the diaphragm is particularly objectionable in rolling down the edge of the soles, especially that type of soles known as the rolled edge, in which the sole extends up on the upper of the article for some distance. Due to this frictional or wiping action of the diaphragm the sole stock isstretched at the point where it is turned up on the upper to such an extent that it becomes thinned out and weakened, while as before stated the knurling is also marred. Due also to this pulling or wiping action of the diaphragm the sole is united with the footwear article while in a stretched condition. and hence. when the pressure is relieved the sole tends to assume its originalcondition, thereby causing pulling and distortion of the upper. particularly if as before stated the upper has been loosely lasted by the operator. In some types of machines. as in patent to Hemenover. No. 1.160.983. November 16, 1915. a flexible sheet or pad of ordinary vulcanizedrubber is disposed between the diaphragm and-the sole to be pressed, but it is *obvious that the same objectionable wiping or frictional action takes place as when the diaphra m directly engages the sole. Another obiection in the machines of the prior art is their inability to properly press the shank portion of the sole into contact with the article and also the sides of the shank portion.

Attempts have been made to obviate this difficulty, as in patent to Hemenover. by us ing the previously mentioned intervening sheet of rubber between the diaphragm and sole and providing this sheet with a raised or thickened portion for engagement with the shank of the sole. However. it is obvious that this considerably thickened portion cannot be as readily bent up at the sides as the rema nder of the sheet. and hence the edges ofthe shank portions of the sole are not as heavily pressed as the body of the shank. In

addition the sheet with raised shank engaging portion must be continually changed for different styles and sizes of footwear articles, and as the operator has only his eye to guide him, the shank engaging portion of the sheet is not uniformly disposed in proper relation to the shank of the sole; I

The rubber sole pressing machines of the prior art are also limited in capacity by reaw 'son of the fact that the machine is idle while the pressing operation. Another object is to revent friction between the sole and the means by which it is pressed into engagement with a footwear article. Anotherobject is to prevent all marring of 'a footwear article by the sole pressing operation. Still another object is to provide an improved means for obviating use of a toe support during the pressing operation. A further object is to more uniformly secure complete union of the sole and its edges with a footwear article, particularly at the shank. A further object is to increase the capacity of sole pressing machines. A still further object is to insure a uniform positioning of each article with respect to the sole pressing apparatus. A still further object is to provide a machine capable of rapidly and efliciently pressing various styles and sizes of soles without continual adjustment and interchange of parts.

For a detailed disclosure of the invention reference is had to the accompanying specification and drawings, in which latter:

Fig. 1 isa side elevation of the machine with parts broken away, i

' Fig. 2 is a front elevation. partly in section,

Fig. 3 is a part horizontal section below the diaphragm slide head,

Fig. 4 is a plan of the sole pressing device with the diaphragm removed,

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section through the sole pressing device,

Fig. 6 is a detail section through the last carrying turret head,

Fig. 7 is a similar section in a different plane and showing the parts in a different position, and

Fig. 8 is a detail section of the lower part of the machine.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 designates the mainframe of the machine, which is provided at its top with an overhanging arm 2. Mounted on the base of the machine is a motor 3, the shaft of which is connected with a shaft 4 on which is mounted a worm 5. Meshing with the worm 5 is a eases? worm wheel 6 freely rotatable on the shaft 7. The wheel 6 is connected in driving relation to the shaft 7 by a clutch, one member 8 of which is pinned to the hub of the wheel and is provided with teeth adapted, to mesh with the teeth of a clutch sleeve 9 slidably keyed to the shaft 7. The parts 8 and 9 are normally held in engagement by the compression spring 10 disposed on the shaft 7. The clutch members are separated when desired bythe following mechanism. The sleeve 9 carries a projecting pin 11, with which is adapted to engage a throw-out dog 12 (Figs. 3 and 8) carried by thev lever 13 pivotally mounted at 14. This lever is connected by an adjustable link 15 with a foot lever 16 pivoted on the frame of the machine, and the latter may be held in depressed position by the spring pressed dog 17. Vhen the lever 16 is released from dog 17 the throw-out dog 12 tends to assume its operative position by reason of the tension spring 18 connected to the lever 13 .and to the frame of the machine.

The shaft '7 through the meshing mitre gears 19 drives a vertical shaft 20, and the latter through the meshing mitre gears 21.

drives a horizontally disposed shaft 22. Secured on the shaft 22 is the drive arm 23 of a Geneva stop movement, on which arm is mounted a roll 241. Also mounted on the shaft 22 is the locking segment 25 of the stop movement. Disposed in the overhanging arm 2 is a shaft 26, on one end of which is secured the Geneva drive wheel 27 provided with the slots 28 for engagement by the roll 24. Secured to the free end of the arm 2 and surrounding the shaft 2 6 is a cam 29, the purpose of which will be later explained. Keyed to the end of shaft 26 is a turret head 30 carrying aseries of last supporting blocks 31, in the present instance four in number. As

the last supporting blocks are identical a description of one of them will sufiice. Each block 31 is pivotally supported in the head at 32, and on its side 33 facing the head is slightly inclined in order to permit a small pivotal movement of the block. The block tends to assume the inclined position shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 7 by reason of a coiled compression spring 34 disposed in the head 31) and pressin against one end of the block 31: The block is provided with a cavity in its interior covered by a detachable retaining plate 35, and loosely mounted in said plate are two last engaging pins 36 having enlarged heads 37 disposed in the cavity in the block. Engaging each head 37 is a spring pressed plunger 38, the pressure of which may be Varied by means of the adjusting screw 39, and it will be seen by an inspection of Fig. 6 that theplungers 38 tend to press the heads 37 toward each other and thereby spread the projecting free ends of pins 36. The block 31 is provided with a bearing lug 40 on its inner side, which lug projects through the enlarged opening 41 in the head 30. Slidably mounted in the lug is an unlocking and ejecting pin 42, the upper end of which is adapted to coact with the cam 29 in a manner hereafter described. T his pin is provided with an enlarged inclined cam portion 43, which when the pin is actuated by the cam 29 presses apart the heads 37 of the last engaging pins in opposition to, the plungers 38, to therebybring the projecting last engaging ends of pins 36 into parallelism, as shown in Fig. 7. Projecting below the cam portion 43 of pin 42 is 11 extension provided with an ejecting head 44 adapted to engage a last and remove the same from the pins 36 when they are in the position shown in Fig. 7.

Disposed below the turret head 30 is a slide body 45 provided with an interior cavity 46 for the reception of a suitable fluid, in the present instance water. The top of this cavity is closed by a flexible and elastic diaphragm 47. in the present instance formed of vulcanized rubber, which diaphragm is secured at its edge to the wall of slide 45 by the clamping frame 48, which latter is held in position by the locking bolts 49 pivotally connected to it and engaging lugs 49 on the slide 45. Superposed on the diaphragm 47 is a relatively thick sheet 50 of vulcanized sponge rubber. which in the present instance is not secured. but itwill be obvious from the succeeding description that the same may be loosely secured in any desired manner which will permit its proper operation. Communicating with the cavity 46 is an upper pipe line 51 and a lower one 52, to which is connected a water gauge 55. Connected to the pipe line 51 is a valve controlled filling cup 54, and in communication with the pipe line 52 is a pressure gauge 55. In order to allow for the escape of air from the cavity 46 when the water is introduced therein petcocks 56 are provided at each end of the slide 45, which communicate by means of the passageways 5'7 with the highest point in the cavity. A drain cock 58 is also provided. which communicates with the bottom of the cavity.

Disposed within the cavity 46 and hingedlyconnected to its bottom are two supports 59, between the tops of which extends a flexible and elastic shank pressing bridge 60 below diaphragm 47, the bridge in the present instance being formed of vulcanized rubber.

This bridge is thickened at its ends, while at its intermediate portion. 61 it is somewhat reduced. The top surface of the bridge is also somewhat depressed in the middle, as shown at 62- in Fig. 2.

At its bottom the slide body 45 is provided with a longitudinal dove-tail slide 63 engaging a corresponding dove-tail groove 64 in a resiliently mounted diaphragm slide head 65. In order to hold the slide body 45 in adjusted position it is provided with a depending bores are located.

'73 hearing at one end against flanges 74 on the guide rods and at the other end against hollow adjusting nuts 75 surrounding the lower ends of the guide rods 69 and threaded into the slide block 71. In order to save weight the lower portion of block 71 is cutaway to form tubular members in which the The slide block 71 is provided with the vertical dove-tail 76 movable in a corresponding dove-tail groove 77 in the frame 1 (Fig. 3).

The slide block 71 is raised and lowered in thefollowing manner: Mounted on the end of shaft 7 is a lifting cam 78, with which engages a'cam roll 7 9 carried by the slide block 71. In order to vary the stroke of the slide block 71 the cam roll 79 is adjustably connected thereto in the following manner: The roll is mounted on a stud 80 projecting from a small dove-tail adjusting slide block 81 ver tically movable in the main slide 71, and threadedly connected with the block 81 is an adjusting screw 82 rotatable in the main slide 71. and carrying at its upper end a Initre gear 83 meshing with a mitre gear 84 on shaft 85 j ournalled in the slide block 71, which latter shaft may be rotated by means of the hand cavity 46 and adjacent the shank pressing bridge 60 is a heel rest and clamp 87, which latter is pivotally connected at 88 to a vertically reciprocable support. which in the present instance is a piston rod 89. The piston rod extends downwardly through the bottom of slide body 45 and dove-tail slide 63 through a tubular support 90. which latter at its upper end is connected to the bottom of slide 63 and at its lower end carries a cyl inder 91. To the lower end of piston rod 89 is connected a piston 92 movable in the cylinder 91. and disposed around the rod 89 within the tubular support 90 is a compression spring 93. To the lower end of cylinder 91 is connected an inlet and exhaust pipe 91 for the actuating fluid. which in the present instance is water. Leading from the pipe 94 is a flexible pipe 95 connected into one branch of the cross coupling 96, while connected to a second branch of the coupling is a pressure gauge 97. Leading from a third branch of the coupling is a pressure relief valve 98 which also connects with a T-coupling 99.

99 into the fourth branch of the cross coupling 96, and interposed in this pipe is an ordinary form of check valve 100. Leading from the other arm of the T-coupling 99 is a pipe 101 which communicates with a water reservoir 102 formed in the main frame 1.

In operation water is supplied to the reservoir 102, the diaphragm cavity 46 is filled ing block with a suitable fluid such as water and the machine'started. At each-actuation of the Geneva stop movement the shaft 26 imparts a quarter turn to the head 30 and the blocks 31 carried by it in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 2. Referring more particularly to Figs. 7 and 2, it will be seen that as the lefthand last supporting block 31 in Fig. 2 nearly approaches a horizontal position the pin 42 rides up on the high portion 29 of the cam 29. thus causing the pin 42 to be moved outwardly in the block as shown in Fig. 7 In this movement the enlarged cam portion 43 of the pin passes between the heads 37 of the last supporting pins, thereby spreading them and causing the projecting portions of the pins 36 to assume a parallel position and relieves their grip on the shoe last if one is on the pins, while in the further movement of pin 42 the head 44 is caused to project beyond the retaining plate 35 and eject the last. Just before the last supportassumes a horizontal position and comes to rest, as indicated in Fig. 2, the pin 42 passes off of the high portion 29' of the cam 29. The operator who is to supply the articles for pressing usually stands at the right of the machine as shown in Fig.2, and when in the rotation of turret head 30 an empty block 31 reaches him he places a last and its accompanying footwear article on the pins 36, and as the last is pushed home against the retaining plate 35 it pushes in the head 44 and pin 42, thereby freeing the I cam portion 43 from engagement with the enlarged heads 37, and permitting the spring pressed plungers 38 to again spread the projecting portions of the last engaging pins as shown in Fig. 6 to thereby hold the last in position. As the machine continues in operation the turret head 30 is intermittently rotated 90 to present another last supporting block for the reception of a last. As each lasted article reaches the lower vertical position shown in Fig. 1, the lifting cam 7 8 operates to raise the sole pressing mechanism against the sole of the article. As the footwear article is slightly inclined as shown in Fig. 1, the first effect is to straighten up the last and article to a horizontal position, and

the elastic diaphragm 47 then forces the sponge rubber sheet 50 directly up against the sole tobe pressed, and in the continued upward movement of the sole pressing mech, anism the diaphragm stretches, and folds over the edge portions of the sponge rubber sheet around the edge portions of the foottends to drag the latter with it, but due to the thickness of the sponge rubber and its cellular nature this frictional drag is entirely absorbed in the body of the sponge rubber and there is no drag whatever between the inner portion of the sponge rubber sheet and the sole which is being pressed, hence there is no lateral pressure component on the sole and the pressure on the sole and lower part of the upper is at all times exerted in a direction normal thereto at any given point. A thin sheet of solid rubber cannot be used for this purpose because ifit is stretched on one sideby any friction, the stretch will necessarily be transmitted through the thin solid rubber to the other side to a degree sufiicient to cause 35 damaging friction on the sole. Soft Vulcanized sponge rubber, however, is in a highly cellular and flexible condition with thin walls of rubber surrounding the numerous air spaces, and if a piece of it is stretched on one side by friction, the stretch is not appreciably .transmitted through the cells to the other side, particularly if the piece is thick. Of course a thick piece of solid rubber would not appreciably transmit frictional stretch from one side to the other, but if made thick enough for this purpose, it would be so stiff that the flexible diaphragm could not bend and force it with sufiicient pressure against the footwear article to properly press the 1 sole edges and it would not properly conform to the irregular outline of a shoe, especially at the shank. As a result there is-no tendency to mar the knurling on the sole bottom, or

at its edges in the case of a rolled edge sole.

Moreover, due to this direct and frictionless pressure the sole is entirely free from tension while being united to the article and when the pressure is released there is no tend,-

ency whatever to draw or pull on the shoe upper with consequent distortion of the latter.

In the machines of the prior art great dif ficulty has been experienced in properly rolling down or pressing the shank portion of 5 the sole, and as pointed out in the discussion of the'Hemenover patent, if a raised shank engaging portion be supplied on an ordinary sheet of rubber, this portion cannot be folded around the edges of shank as smoothly and with the same pressure as the remaining portions of the interposed sheet. By the use of the applicants shank pressing bridge 60, however, the diaphragm 47 and sponge rubber sheet 50 are firmly pressed up against the 1g shank portion of the sole slightly in advance of the application of pressure to the remaining portions ofthe sole, and as the sponge rubber sheet is of uniform thickness and relatively flexible it is folded under even pres-. 1

sure smoothly around the edges of the shank. By the use of the heel clamp 87 the shoe and last are firmly held during the pressing operation, and any upward tilting of the toe portion by reason of the pressure is prevented. The heel clamp, by its action on the last, also causes a uniform' engagement of the shank pressing bridge with the highest part of the shank. Due to the resilient mounting of the heel clamp it can give sufiiciently during thepressing operation to prevent any undue pressure on the heel of the sole. In the relative movement of the heel clamp 87 and slide body 45 after the clamp has engaged the heel the piston 92 forces fluid out of the cylinder9l and this passes through the pipe 95, T 96 and relief valve 98 into the reservoir 102 in the frame, the check valve 100 being closed at this time. When the sole pressing operation is completed and the heel clamp 87 rises again by the action of the spring 93 the fluid flows back through the check valve 100 and into the cylinder 91. By the use of the adjusting screw 67 the sole pressing mechanism may be longitudinally adjusted to properly dispose the shank pressing bridge and heel clamp for the various sizes, and once properly adjusted it will be seen that the shank pressing bridge and heel clamp always engage the sole to be pressed in the same relative position without any necessity by the operator for individual adjust-- ment or steadying of the article to be pressed. It is evident that the shank pressing bridge and heel clamp may also be used with the ordinary forms of sole pressing diaphragms if desired. By manipulation of the hand wheel 86 the position of the cam follower 79 may be suitably varied to alter the throw of cam 78 and the upward movement of the sole pressing mechanism for different sizes of footwear articles, and to vary the pres sure. The pressure may also be varied by adjusting the nuts 75 to change the pressure of the compression springs 73. After the completion of each sole pressing operation the turret head 30 makes a quarter turn to bring the pressed article into a horizontal position, and as before pointed out, just prior to reaching this position the high point :29 of cam 29 engages the pin 42, thereby straightening the last supporting pins 36 and causing the head 44 to eject the pressed shoe. The capacity of the machine is so great that when operating at maximum speed two operators are required, one standing at the left of the machine as shown in Fig. 2 to receive ,the pressed articles as they are ejected and place them on racks, while the other operator stands at the right hand side of the machine and inserts the articles to be pressed on the right hand horizontal last supporting block 31.

It will be seen that by the use of our machine there is no marring or creeping of the upper, due to the absence of a toe support, and that by reason of the interposition of the sponge rubber sheet there is no marring, stretching or other distortion of the sole during the pressing operation. By the use of the elastic shank pressing bridge the shank portion of the sole is placed under pressure slightly in advance of the remainder and thoroughly rolled down and united to the body of the footwear article both at the bot tom and the sides. By our invention a single pressing device is capable of handling rights, lofts and all styles and sizes without any 1nterchange of parts, and at a maximum speed. hen the sole pressing mechanism has once been properly disposed the pressing operation then proceeds without any care or attention whatever on the part of the operator in the positioning of the article, other than that required to place the last on its supporting pins, and as the spacing of these pins is uniform for a comparatively large number of sizes, but little longitudinal adjustment of the diaphragm is necessary. As the pressing operation proceeds simultaneously with the exchanging of a pressed article for another by the operator the capacity of the machine is greatly increased, and while it is obvious that compressed air or other gas may be used in the diaphragm cavity 46 it is preferred to use a liquid such as water which allows the pressure to build up rapidly, thereby shortening the time for each pressing operation.

While the present embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it is obvious that numerous modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and it is not desired to limit the invention otherwise than as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to protect byLetters Patent is:

1. In a rubber sole pressing machine, means for engaging a lasted footwear article by its last, elastic means for exerting pressure on the sole of the article, and a sheet of sponge rubber disposed directly between said elastic means and the sole.

2. In a rubber sole pressing machine, means for engaging a lasted footwear article by its last, a fluid supported diaphragm opposed to the sole portion thereof, a sheet of sponge rubber interposed directly between said diaphragm and the article, and means for relatively moving saidopposed parts.

3. In a rubber sole pressing machine, means for engaging a lasted footwear article by its last, a fluid supported diaphragm resiliently mounted in opposition to the sole portion of the article, a sheet of sponge rubber interposed directly between said diaphragm and the article, and ,means for relatively moving said opposed parts.

bridge member independent of said element engaging a lasted fonpressing the latter against the shank of the sole and around the shank edges.

6. In a sole'pressing machine, means for en aging a lasted footwear article by its last, fluid supported flexible means opposed thereto for pressing a sole, means for relatively moving the two, and a rubber bridge member disposed transversely of the .article shank and independent of said fluid supported means for pressing the latter against the shank of the sole.

.7. In a sole pressing machine,-means for engaging a lasted footwear article by its last, fluid supported flexible'means opposed thereto, means including a resilient connection for relatively moving the two, and a hingedly mounted resilient bridge member independent of said fluid supported means for press ing the latter against the shank of the sole.

8. In a sole pressing machine, means for footwear article by the projecting portion of its last, flexible means for pressing a sole on the article, means for relatively moving the two, and means on the opposite side of said pressing means from said first means and cooperating therewith for preventing tiltin of the last and article.

9. In a sole pressing machine, a pivotal support for the projecting portion of a last, flexible means for pressing the sole of an article on the last, means for relatively moving the two, and resilient heel supporting means disposed on the opposite side of said flexible means from said support.

10. In a sole pressing machine, means for engaging a lasted footwear article by its last, flexible sole pressing means opposed thereto, means for relatively moving the two to press the sole, and a resiliently mounted heel support disposed on the opposite side of the sole pressing means from, and in alignment with, said first means.

11. In a sole pressing machine, means for engaging a lasted footwear article by its last, flexible sole pressing means opposed thereto, means for relatively moving the two, means on the opposite side of the sole pressing means for independently pressing it against the shank of the sole, and means also engagin the sole pressing means for causing a uniform engagement of said shank pressing means with respect to the heel of the shoe. 12. In a sole pressing machine, a pivotal support for a lasted footwear article, flexible ent flexible shank pressing means operable against said sole pressing means, and a resiliently mounted last heel clamping device also operable against said sole pressing means.

14. In a sole pressing machine, means for engaging a lasted footwear article by its last, fluid supported sole pressing means opposed thereto and including a sponge rubber element, means for relatively moving the two to directly contact the sponge rubber element with a sole, and, a rubber bridge-member disposed in rear of said sole pressing means in position to press it against the shank of the sole.

15. In a sole pressing machine, means for engaging a lasted footwear article by its last,'fluid supported sole pressing means opposed thereto and including a sponge rubber element, means for relatively moving the two to directly contact the sponge rubber element with a sole and including a resilient connection, and a recessed rubber bridge member disposed in rear of said sole pressing means in position to press it against the shank of the sole.

16. In a sole pressing machine, means for moving a lasted footwear article in a closed path, means for pressing a sole thereon at a fixed point in said path, andmeans for automatically ejecting the pressed article from the machine at another point in said path.

17. In a sole pressing machine, rotatable means for supporting a lasted footwear article, means for intermittently actuating the same, means for pressing a sole on the article at a fixed point in its rotation, and means for automatically ejecting the pressed article from the machine at another point in its rotation.

18. In a sole pressing machine, means for supporting a lasted footwear article, means for automatically locking. the last in position on its supporting means, means for pressing a sole on the lasted article, and means for automatically unlocking the pressed article and its last and ejecting them from the machine.

19. In a sole pressingmachine, means for supportinga lasted footwear article, means operable by the positioning of a last for locking it in place on its supporting means, Haven, and State of Connecticut, this 7th means for pressing a soleon the lasted article, and means for automaticallv unlocking the pressed article and its last and ejecting them from the machine.

20. In a sole pressing machine, a plural- 'ity of rotatably supported lasted footwear article engaging means, means for rotating the same, means whereby each last may be automatically locked in position on its engaging means at a fixed point in its rotation, sole pressing means, and means for automatically unlocking a pressed article and last and ejecting them from the machine.

21. In a sole pressing machine, a rotatable head, a plurality of last supports carried thereby, means for intermittently rotating said head, means operable by the positioning of a last on its support for automatically locking it thereto, means for'press ing a sole, and automatic means for unlocking a pressed article and its last and ejecting them from the machine.

22. In a. sole pressing machine, a rotatable last support, last receiving pins carried thereby, automatic means for disposing said pins in last receiving position, means oper- -able by the positioning of a last on said pins for disposing them in locking position, and sole pressing means cooperating with said support.

23. In a sole pressing machine, a rotatable head, a plurality of. last supports carried thereby, means for intermittently rotating the head, last engaging and locking means carried by each support, and means disposed at a fixed point in the rotation of each support for automatically disen aging the last engaging means and ejecting the last from the machine.

24. In a sole pressing machine, a rotatable head. a plurality of last supports carried thereby, last engaging pins disposed on each support, yielding means tending to move said pins to locking position, and automatic means for moving said pins to unlocking position at a fixed point in the rotation of each support and ejecting the last.

25. In a sole pressing machine, a support for a lasted footwear article, a horizontally adjustable flexible diaphragm sole pressing device opposed thereto, means for supporting said device including a slide, a resilient connection between said slide and the sole pressing device, and means for actuating said slide.

26. In a sole pressing machine, a support for a lasted footwear article, a flexible diaphragm sole pressing device opposed thereto, a mounting for said device including a slide connection therewith, a slide block, an adjustable resilient connection between said slide block and mounting, and means for actuating said slide block. I

Signed at New Haven, county of New day of June, 1923.

ROBERT J. KING.

day of June, 1923.

RALPH A. BLAKE. 

